2283 A. FRANCOTTE MARKED FINELY GOLD INLAID SIDELOCK EJECTOR HEAVY GAME SHOTGUN.

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 2,500.00 USD
Estimated at 5,000.00 - 6,500.00 USD
Cal. 12 Ga. 2 3/4". S# on bbls. 13496 (on action 2638). The 28 3/8" dovetailed steel bbls. with narrow swamped matted game rib are engraved "Aug-Francotte. Liege" and "Made in Belgium" on the tops. Bbl. flats are stamped with Belgian nitro proofs for 2 3/4" chambers with a crowned "AF". Serial number is on the bottom of the right bbl., and there are also remnants of bore diameters. Flats are not marked "Francotte Choke Bore" or with other markings associated with Francotte-made guns. Coin-finished sidelock action has watertable stamped with the crowned "V" British-type proofs, Belgian nitro proof, the number "2638", "A.J.D.", and "PATENT 587" (A. J. Defourney). Action is stocked to the fences and features automatic safety ("S" inlaid in gold), a hidden third fastener, sideclips, bushed strikers, & double triggers (front articulated). Action is engraved with near-full coverage, very small simple scroll within scroll, and geometric borders. Fences and a crescent on the bottom of action are engraved with a semi-relief multi-floral design. Lockplates are relief gold inlaid with an array of waterfowl. Four pintail ducks are in poses as if either rising from or settling into a body of water on the left lockplate. Right side depicts four mallards as if they were about to land. Bottom of action has a central oval of silver inlaid, depicting a labrador retrieving a duck. This work is of very high quality. Trigger guard has a matching small scroll on the bow & trigger guard tang. Straight-grip buttstock of well-streaked & nicely figured European walnut measures 14 1/4" over a red "Old English" pad. Borderless point pattern checkering is at grip. Small splinter ejector forend has checkering that is much more closely spaced than buttstock and has line borders. MEASUREMENTS: BBLS: Bore Diameter: R .725", L .730". Restriction: R .005" (IC), L .015" (MOD). Min. Wall Thickness: R .031", L .026". STOCK: DAH: 1 3/4"+. DAC: 1 1/2"+. LOP: 14 1/4". CAST: neutral. WEIGHT: 6 lb. 12 oz. CONDITION: very good to fine, as nicely restored. Bbls. retain nearly all of a good-quality reblack. Action cleaned to a coin finish; engraving remains good with some wear; later engraving is clear & sharp. Buttstock retains most of an old oil refinish with some subsequent marks and checkering recut. Pad is relatively new. Replaced forend wood retains most of its original finish; checkering is lightly worn. Bores are bright & shiny, without any visible problems. Action is tight. Bbls. are on the face. Ejectors are slightly out of time. Front trigger jams on the trigger guard bow when pushed into forward position (the bow needs some adjustment). There is a 1/2" stress crack behind the right lockplate. A very attractive, high-grade shotgun. (22-2242/MGM). CURIO. $5,000-6,500.